Stefanie petulantly glared at Alex. “You’re saying all this just because you want me to approve of you and Jewel, are you not?”
Alex smiled and replied, ‘Of course. Your intelligence finally returned, Mom. See how you shouldn’t let Winnie throw you off track? We should focus on living our own wonderful lives. They are all in the past now. Jewel is an exceptionally sweet girl.
It’s because you don’t like her that she asked to break up with me several times. It was me who persistently pursued her. Now she’s Mrs. Nolan’s foster daughter and Eugene’s sister, yet you keep fixating on her blood relation with Winnie. But they’ve never even met! Mom, please, consider supporting us because I genuinely like her.”
Stefanie felt an inexplicable lump in her throat and a surge of warmth welling up in her eyes. She reached out and caressed his head, choked with emotion. “You’re already going to sever ties with me. How can I not support you? You’re all I have.”
Alex’s heart suddenly churned, and he embraced Stefanie. “Thank you, Mom.”
“Go ahead. As long as you’re happy,” Stefanie cooed while ruffling his hair. The banquet was nearing its end when Eugene and Olivia emerged from the room.
They were supposed to help and celebrate Prunella’s birthday, but they ended up doing nothing but being overwhelmed by their family. issues. After bidding Aubrey and Hayden farewell, they left. First, they sent Ellen back.
Before she got off the car, she gave Jewel a few reminders. “Jewel, Stefanie can be a bit harsh, but I can tell that Alex genuinely cares for you. Whether you two stay together, I’ll always be here for you. What matters is that you’re happy. Don’t sacrifice yourself!”
Jewel was instantly filled with tears, and she held Ellen tightly. “Thank you, Mom! I understand.”
She called her ‘Mom, not just ‘Godmother.”
Ever since she could remember, no one had ever been this nice to her. She had suffered misfortune, experienced memory loss, disfigurement, and various hardships, even in her relationships. But she was also grateful that she had people who treated her so well, so lovingly.
After parting ways with Ellen, Olivia held Jewel’s hand to express her happiness. “This time, Alex’s mom shouldn’t oppose you guys anymore.”
However, Jewel couldn’t feel any joy in her heart. “But should we be together just because she agrees?” she murmured.
“Don’t you want to be with him? Do you really want to break up?” Olivia gazed skeptically at her, and Jewel looked out the window, somewhat irritable. “I don’t know. I haven’t made up my mind yet.”
“What are you worried about?” Olivia asked.
“Do you think a forced relationship can last?” she mumbled after a long silence. “Even if I don’t mind his mother’s unfriendly attitude toward me, and even if I don’t mind her accusing my mom of being a homewrecker, you can tell that Alex’s mom tonight only reluctantly compromised because you guys forced her to. She didn’t genuinely agree.”
Before Olivia could respond, Eugene spoke up. “You two are only dating, not getting married. Why do you have to think so much? If you get along well, stay together. If not, break up. Who knows what the future holds? Just because Alex’s mother doesn’t agree now doesn’t mean she’ll never come around. You two should focus on the present. Right now, you love each other, so be happy together and don’t let external factors affect your mood. Both you and Alex keep worrying about the future, but the prerequisite is to be together, no?”
Jewel was taken aback, and it was as if she suddenly saw things clearly. Yeah, it makes sense! She had been thinking about what would happen in the future, how she would get along with her harsh mother-in- law, and leaving Alex caught in the middle, torn between them.
But she had forgotten that they hadn’t even properly dated yet, and whether they could be together in the future and how long their love would last were all unknowns, still up in the air.
